Butter King

Family: Asteraceae Leafy Green

Sink your spoon into Butter King’s velvety, butter-soft leaves—an inviting, pale-gold green that feels luxuriously tender from the first bite.

Forming a full, rounded butterhead at about 65 days, it offers a mild, sweet flavor with a delicate, spoonable texture that shines in fresh salads and elegant platters, as well as in soothing sauces and quick pickling-style preparations.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 65 DaysHabit: Rosette

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Mar 28th
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 25th
Harvest Begins	Jun 29th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	65
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Rosette
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Surface
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	35
Harden Off (days)	6

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Butterhead lettuces like Butter King are built for tenderness—your best move is dressing and heat that respect the leaf. The pale-gold, spoonable texture makes it ideal for elegant platters and quick, gentle preparations rather than aggressive chopping or heavy cooking.

Best Uses

torn-leaf salads where the dressing clings without punching through the texture
butterhead cups for spooned toppings (caviar, crab salad, herbed ricotta)
quick pickling-style prep where the leaves stay supple instead of turning harsh
soothing, gently blended sauces (think warm cream or lemon-butter emulsions)

Flavor Profile

mild sweet, buttery leaf flavor velvety, spoonable tenderness light grassy snap with a clean finish

Kitchen Pairings

lemon olive oil butter black pepper goat cheese prosciutto

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if my Butter King plants get powdery mildew?

Powdery mildew shows up as a white, flour-like coating on Butter King leaves, usually starting mid-season in humid spells. Remove badly affected leaves early, improve airflow by thinning crowded stems, and spray a preventive-ready fungicide labeled for powdery mildew as soon as the first spots appear (follow label directions). Avoid overhead watering so leaf surfaces stay dry, and discard infected plant debris rather than composting it.

How often should I water Butter King during the main growth (about weeks 3–8)?

During active growth, keep soil evenly moist so the top 1–2 inches don’t dry out completely, which typically means watering about 1–2 times per week depending on heat and rainfall. Water deeply at each session to reach the root zone, then let the surface dry slightly before watering again. Inconsistent moisture is a common trigger for stress and poor development, so aim for a steady rhythm rather than frequent light sprinkles.

How can I tell when Butter King is ready to harvest at around 65 days?

Harvest when the pods/heads reach the variety’s typical size and look fully developed, with plants no longer producing new growth. For the best eating quality, pick during the cool part of the day and use the fruit promptly; if you wait until they look overgrown or begin to soften quickly, flavor can drop. If you’re unsure, pick one test sample at 65 days and check size and tenderness before harvesting the rest.